Improvement in hay-spreaders



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JSHUA C. STODDARll-OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 92,122, dated 7eme 29, 1869.

IMPRUVEMENT IN HAY-SPREAIDIEIRS.A

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part f the same.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osuna U. STODDARD, of the city and county of lVoi-cester, in the State oi' Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hay-Spreaders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The hay-spreaders heretofore used consist mainly of a series of rakes rotating ou an axis parallel with the main axle of the'machine, and moving the cut crop in lines parallel with the path of the machine.

The object of the first part of my invention is to turn the crop in a direction transverse to the path of the machine; and

The improvements herein claimed consist- First, in a novel method of combining, with a hayspreader, a rake rotating on an axis transverse to the main axle of the machine.

'Ihe object of the next part of my invention is so to adjust the rake-teeth as to cause them to describe a larger or smaller circle; and

The improvement `consists-- Second, ina novel method of combining radiallyadjustable rake-teeth, with a shaft rotating transversely to the main axle. Third. The improvement further consists in a novel Amethod of combining in a hay-spreader, independently- 'adjustable radially-pivoted rake-teeth, revolving on independent shafts. parallel to each other, whereby each set of teeth may describe a circle of a diameter different from the othersif' required.

' The objecto'if the next part oi' my invention is, to render the machine adjustable to suit horses of different heights and Y The improvement consists- Fouith, in a novel method of combining a draughtfuture, vibrating on the main axle, and a gearingframe;vibrating-on the same axle, and adjustable relativeiy'to-thev'draught-tiame, with rakes rotating on axes transverse to the main axle.

Fifth.' The-improvement further consists in a `novel method zot combining, in a hay-spreader, two wheels mounted en'erank-axles, vand a draught-trame connecting said' axlesb below theaxis ofthe wheels, withan adjustable-gear frame pivoted in the line oftheaxles of the wheels above the draught-frame.

Sixth. The improvement further consists in a novel method ot' combining rakes rotating transversely to the'main axle, and in rear thereof, with av countershaft in front of the main axle.

'Ihe accompanying drawings show all the improvements herein claimed, embodied in one machine. -It is obvious, however, that some et' myimprovemeets might be used Without the others, andmight also be adapted to machines varying in their construct-ion from that shown in the drawings. y

Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of my improved machine.

Figure 2, a view, in elevation, of the same as seen from one side, with the near wheel removed, and the flame partly in section. l

Figure 3, a front view of one of the crank-axles, and a portion ofthe draught-frame and gearing-frame, showing their mode of construction.

' In this instance, two wheels A A,vare shown, as turning loosely ou crank-axles B, secured upon a transverse beam C, from which thilis D project.

These thills are connected by a cross-bar, d, and, with the beam C, constitute what I term a draughtframe.

. The beam C, it will be observed, is below the line of the axles ofthe wheels. A seat, E, for the drivel', is mounted onl the beam A gearing-frame, F, is connected with the axles by pivot-pins j, near its rear end. Ihese pins, it will be observed, are in the line of thc axis ofi the wheels A A. The thills and gear-frame are thus free to vibrate or rock on the axles, and can also be adjusted, rela- .tively to each other, by means of' a spring-catch, G, (or other equivalent means,) which holds the two trames together.

In this instance, a vspur-wheel, H, 'drives a corresponding pinion, h, ou a countershaft, I, mounted in proper bearings on the frame F.

Bevel pinions t', on this shaft, gear into corresponding pinions j, on shafts J, (mounted in proper bearings on the gear-trame) transverse tothe main axle.

, The rear portions of these shafts are squared to receive hanged collars k kl, which canbe moved toward or from each other, and held in any desired position by set-screws. J

Rake-teeth L, are pivot-cd in the collars k, so as to be free to play radially, and pass through eyes orloops in the collars k, so that as the collars approach each other, the rear ends of the rake-teeth diverge, and m'ce corsa. f

The teeth may be made either straight or curved, as desired.

In vtig. 1, the rakes are shown as adjusted to de-V scribe circles of. different diameters, to. illustrate their working more clearly. y

t is obvious that the rakes might be driven from either or both wheels, that the gearing might be` changed, and other details of construction varied, without .departing from the spirit ot my invention.

The rakes might be so geared as to throw the crop to the 'centre from both sides, or 'vice versa, instead of all rotating in one direction, as in the drawing.

The operation of the machine is so obvious as to re# quireno description other than that already given.

What I claim as my'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1 The combination,with a hay-spreader, o' a rake, rotating on an axis transverse to the main axle, the combination being and operating substantially as set fort-h.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, in a hay-fspreader`,"bf'a shaft rotating transversely to the main axle, with teeth radially adjustable relatively to their axis of rotation.,

3. The combination,` ina haysspreader, of independently-adjustable radial rake-teeth, with independent parallel shafts transverse to the main axle, the combination being and operatin g substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, in a hay-spreader, of a draught-frame vibrating on the main axle, and a gearing-frame' vibrating on the same axle, and adjustable relatively to the draught-trame, with rakes rotating on shafts transverse to the main axle.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, in a my name.,

J. O. STODDARD. W'itnesses:

GEO. SWAN, THOMAS MGGRATH. 

